“The Weapon of Theory”: Critical Thought and Social Change​Offered by Ahmed Diaa Dardeeron Sunday mornings from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and evenings from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm​​

​How does political and social theory respond to change? What can theory tell us about social change? Conversely, what can moments of upheaval, revolution, and political and social change tell us about the theories they were attached to? Is there an intellectual history for revolution and counterrevolution?In this course we will read texts of political and social theory in the light of the political and social events that shaped them, from the French Revolution of 1848 to the Egyptian uprising of 2011. We will study both revolutionary and counterrevolutionary representations. This effort will attempt to historicize these theories and understand them in the light of the specific histories that shaped them. In addition, we will explore what it entails to take these theories out of their historical contexts and apply them to others: what then is modified, revised, and/or preserved? In short this course is an exercise of putting theory in context and out of context.While most of the assigned texts are theoretical texts, students are encouraged to research the historical context and compile a chronology of events. This also will be covered in class discussions.The course will be supplemented by optional movie nights and read-along sessionsWhy Apply:

To get a grasp on schools of critical theory and radical thought in light of the social and political movements they were attached to.

To theorize change, revolt, and revolution.

To think of our present condition in the light of various theoretical schools and frameworks.

To interrogate the various theoretical schools and frameworks in light of our present condition.

Tentative Flow (subject to change as per class discussions):

Marx as a Political Analyst: Revolutionary Marxism and the Events of 1848

​Ahmed Diaa is a PhD candidate in Middle Eastern Studies at Columbia University. He holds a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Columbia University, and a Master’s degree in Political Theory from the American University of Beirut. He is interested in questions of state and subjectivity in the context of colonial modernity, in an attempt to understand our current political and social condition. Ahmed is also interested in literature and arts, and especially in theatre. He is also keen on stressing that he is the person on the right hand side of the picture, though he is sure the person on the left has a unique perspective on humanities.